Managing a plurality of processors as devices

ABSTRACT

A computer system&#39;s multiple processors are managed as devices. The operating system accesses the multiple processors using processor device modules loaded into the operating system to facilitate a communication between an application requesting access to a processor and the processor. A device-like access is determined for accessing each one of the processors similar to device-like access for other devices in the system such as disk drives, printers, etc. An application seeking access to a processor issues device-oriented instructions for processing data, and in addition, the application provides the processor with the data to be processed. The processor processes the data according to the instructions provided by the application.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/670,823, entitled“Managing a Plurality of Processors as Devices,” filed on Sep. 25, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to a system and method formanaging a plurality of processors as devices. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a system and a method for applications todirectly access a plurality of processors using device-orientedinstructions.

2. Description of the Related Art

In most multiprocessor systems, access to the processors is facilitatedthrough the operating system, which is executing on one or more of theprocessors (typically the main processor). Applications typically areunaware of a computer system's processor configuration. When anapplication requests the execution of a process, the operating systemdetermines which of the multiple processors is to execute the process.In addition, the operating system determines when and if to swap aprocess executing on a particular processor for another. A programmertypically does not have direct control of a computer system's processorresources.

There are many instances when a programmer would like to have directaccess to each of the available processors. In gaming applications, forexample, programmers are always searching for the most direct controlover a computer system's resources and in particular a computer system'smultiple processors.

What is needed, therefore, is a system and method that could provide aprogrammer with such direct access to the multiple processors of acomputer system. The system and method should provide a programmer withaccess to the multiple processors similar to the access a programmer hasto other devices connected to the computer system such as printers, diskdrives, and the like.

SUMMARY

It has been discovered that the aforementioned challenges can beaddressed by a method and a system for managing a computer system'smultiple processors as devices. Applications, through the operatingsystem, access the multiple processors of a computer system usingprocessor device modules similar to the way applications access otherdevices connected to the computer system such as disk drives, printers,etc.

An operating system is executing on at least one first processor of thecomputer system. A device module corresponding to one or more secondaryprocessors is loaded into the operating system. The device modulefacilitates a communication between an application seeking access to oneor more of the secondary processors and the secondary processors. Thedevice module extends the operating system such that the operatingsystem can execute the device-oriented instructions. The operatingsystem is configured to create an instructions block for the secondaryprocessors to use in processing the application's task.

Device-like access is set up for one or more of the secondaryprocessors. The device-like access may be used by an application toaccess one or more of the secondary processors. Similar access, forexample, may be used by an application to access other devices connectedto the computer system, such as disk drives, printers, etc. Informationabout the set up device-like access for the secondary processors isstored in a device configuration file.

An application seeking access to the one or more secondary processors isloaded by the operating system. The application code includesdevice-oriented instructions adapted to control one or more of thesecondary processors. The loaded device module determines for whichsecondary processor the application's instructions are intended. Thedetermination may be performed using information from the deviceconfiguration file. The application may also provide the one or moresecondary processors with data to be processed. The one or moresecondary processors process the data according to the instructionsprovided by the application and notify the operating system of the endof the processing.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, asdefined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limitingdetailed description set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identicalitems.

FIG. 1 illustrates—the overall architecture of a computer network inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a processing unit (PU)in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a broadband engine(BE) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an synergisticprocessing unit (SPU) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a processing unit,visualizer (VS) and an optical interface in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one combination of processing units inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates another combination of processing units in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates yet another combination of processing units inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another combination of processing units inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another combination of processing units inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11A illustrates the integration of optical interfaces within a chippackage in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a diagram of one configuration of processors using theoptical interfaces of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 11C is a diagram of another configuration of processors using theoptical interfaces of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A illustrates the structure of a memory system in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 12B illustrates the writing of data from a first broadband engineto a second broadband engine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the structure of a shared memory for aprocessing unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14A illustrates one structure for a bank of the memory shown inFIG. 13;

FIG. 14B illustrates another structure for a bank of the memory shown inFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 illustrates a structure for a direct memory access controller inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative structure for a direct memory accesscontroller in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 17-31 illustrate the operation of data synchronization inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a three-state memory diagram illustrating the various statesof a memory location in accordance with the data synchronization schemeof the present invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates the structure of a key control table for a hardwaresandbox in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 34 illustrates a scheme for storing memory access keys for ahardware sandbox in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 35 illustrates the structure of a memory access control table for ahardware sandbox in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a flow diagram of the steps for accessing a memory sandboxusing the key control table of FIG. 33 and the memory access controltable of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 illustrates the structure of a software cell in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 38 is a flow diagram of the steps for issuing remote procedurecalls to SPUs in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 39 illustrates the structure of a dedicated pipeline for processingstreaming data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a flow diagram of the steps performed by the dedicatedpipeline of FIG. 39 in the processing of streaming data in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 41 illustrates an alternative structure for a dedicated pipelinefor the processing of streaming data in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 42 illustrates a scheme for an absolute timer for coordinating theparallel processing of applications and data by SPUs in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating a processing element having amain processor and a plurality of secondary processors sharing a systemmemory;

FIG. 44 is a block diagram illustrating a processor element having amain processor and a plurality of secondary processors sharing a commonsystem memory;

FIG. 45A is a table illustrating a device configuration file thatcontains device access paths and corresponding devices;

FIG. 45B is a table illustrating example application code for accessinga system's multiple processors;

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating a method for setting up device-likeaccess to a system's multiple processors;

FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating a method by which an applicationrequests device-like access to a processor in a multiprocessor system;

FIG. 48 is a flowchart illustrating a method by which an operatingsystem kernel receives a request from an application to access aprocessor in a multi-processor system and facilitates access to theprocessor; and

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating a method with which a processorprocesses an application's request to access a processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is intended to provide a detailed description of anexample of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting of theinvention itself. Rather, any number of variations may fall within thescope of the invention defined in the claims following the description.

The overall architecture for a computer system 101 in accordance withthe present invention is shown in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in this figure, system 101 includes network 104 to whichis connected a plurality of computers and computing devices. Network 104can be a LAN, a global network, such as the Internet, or any othercomputer network.

The computers and computing devices connected to network 104 (thenetwork's “members”) include, e.g., client computers 106, servercomputers 108, personal digital assistants (PDAs) 110, digitaltelevision (DTV) 112 and other wired or wireless computers and computingdevices. The processors employed by the members of network 104 areconstructed from the same common computing module. These processors alsopreferably all have the same ISA and perform processing in accordancewith the same instruction set. The number of modules included within anyparticular processor depends upon the processing power required by thatprocessor.

For example, since servers 108 of system 101 perform more processing ofdata and applications than clients 106, servers 108 contain morecomputing modules than clients 106. PDAs 110, on the other hand, performthe least amount of processing. PDAs 110, therefore, contain thesmallest number of computing modules. DTV 112 performs a level ofprocessing between that of clients 106 and servers 108. DTV 112,therefore, contains a number of computing modules between that ofclients 106 and servers 108. As discussed below, each computing modulecontains a processing controller and a plurality of identical processingunits for performing parallel processing of the data and applicationstransmitted over network 104.

This homogeneous configuration for system 101 facilitates adaptability,processing speed and processing efficiency. Because each member ofsystem 101 performs processing using one or more (or some fraction) ofthe same computing module, the particular computer or computing deviceperforming the actual processing of data and applications isunimportant. The processing of a particular application and data,moreover, can be shared among the network's members. By uniquelyidentifying the cells comprising the data and applications processed bysystem 101 throughout the system, the processing results can betransmitted to the computer or computing device requesting theprocessing regardless of where this processing occurred. Because themodules performing this processing have a common structure and employ acommon ISA, the computational burdens of an added layer of software toachieve compatibility among the processors is avoided. This architectureand programming model facilitates the processing speed necessary toexecute, e.g., real-time, multimedia applications.

To take further advantage of the processing speeds and efficienciesfacilitated by system 101, the data and applications processed by thissystem are packaged into uniquely identified, uniformly formattedsoftware cells 102. Each software cell 102 contains, or can contain,both applications and data. Each software cell also contains an ID toglobally identify the cell throughout network 104 and system 101. Thisuniformity of structure for the software cells, and the software cells'unique identification throughout the network, facilitates the processingof applications and data on any computer or computing device of thenetwork. For example, a client 106 may formulate a software cell 102but, because of the limited processing capabilities of client 106,transmit this software cell to a server 108 for processing. Softwarecells can migrate, therefore, throughout network 104 for processing onthe basis of the availability of processing resources on the network.

The homogeneous structure of processors and software cells of system 101also avoids many of the problems of today's heterogeneous networks. Forexample, inefficient programming models which seek to permit processingof applications on any ISA using any instruction set, e.g., virtualmachines such as the Java virtual machine, are avoided. System 101,therefore, can implement broadband processing far more effectively andefficiently than today's networks.

The basic processing module for all members of network 104 is theprocessing unit (PU). FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of a PU. As shownin this figure, PE 201 comprises a processing unit (PU) 203, a directmemory access controller (DMAC) 205 and a plurality of synergisticprocessing units (SPUs), namely, SPU 207, SPU 209, SPU 211, SPU 213, SPU215, SPU 217, SPU 219 and SPU 221. A local PE bus 223 transmits data andapplications among the SPUs, DMAC 205 and PU 203. Local PE bus 223 canhave, e.g., a conventional architecture or be implemented as a packetswitch network. Implementation as a packet switch network, whilerequiring more hardware, increases available bandwidth.

PE 201 can be constructed using various methods for implementing digitallogic. PE 201 preferably is constructed, however, as a single integratedcircuit employing a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) on asilicon substrate. Alternative materials for substrates include galliumarsinide, gallium aluminum arsinide and other so-called III-B compoundsemploying a wide variety of dopants. PE 201 also could be implementedusing superconducting material, e.g., rapid single-flux-quantum (RSFQ)logic.

PE 201 is closely associated with a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)225 through a high bandwidth memory connection 227. DRAM 225 functionsas the main memory for PE 201. Although a DRAM 225 preferably is adynamic random access memory, DRAM 225 could be implemented using othermeans, e.g., as a static random access memory (SRAM), a magnetic randomaccess memory (MRAM), an optical memory or a holographic memory. DMAC205 facilitates the transfer of data between DRAM 225 and the SPUs andPU of PE 201. As further discussed below, DMAC 205 designates for eachSPU an exclusive area in DRAM 225 into which only the SPU can write dataand from which only the SPU can read data. This exclusive area isdesignated a “sandbox.”

PU 203 can be, e.g., a standard processor capable of stand-aloneprocessing of data and applications. In operation, PU 203 schedules andorchestrates the processing of data and applications by the SPUs. TheSPUs preferably are single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) processors.Under the control of PU 203, the SPUs perform the processing of thesedata and applications in a parallel and independent manner. DMAC 205controls accesses by PU 203 and the SPUs to the data and applicationsstored in the shared DRAM 225. Although PE 201 preferably includes eightSPUs, a greater or lesser number of SPUs can be employed in a PUdepending upon the processing power required. Also, a number of PUs,such as PE 201, may be joined or packaged together to provide enhancedprocessing power.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, four PUs may be packaged or joinedtogether, e.g., within one or more chip packages, to form a singleprocessor for a member of network 104. This configuration is designateda broadband engine (BE). As shown in FIG. 3, BE 301 contains four PUs,namely, PE 303, PE 305, PE 307 and PE 309. Communications among thesePUs are over BE bus 311. Broad bandwidth memory connection 313 providescommunication between shared DRAM 315 and these PUs. In lieu of BE bus311, communications among the PUs of BE 301 can occur through DRAM 315and this memory connection.

Input/output (I/O) interface 317 and external bus 319 providecommunications between broadband engine 301 and the other members ofnetwork 104. Each PU of BE 301 performs processing of data andapplications in a parallel and independent manner analogous to theparallel and independent processing of applications and data performedby the SPUs of a PU.

FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of an SPU. SPU 402 includes localmemory 406, registers 410, four floating point units 412 and fourinteger units 414. Again, however, depending upon the processing powerrequired, a greater or lesser number of floating points units 412 andinteger units 414 can be employed. In a preferred embodiment, localmemory 406 contains 128 kilobytes of storage, and the capacity ofregisters 410 is 128.times.128 bits. Floating point units 412 preferablyoperate at a speed of 32 billion floating point operations per second(32 GFLOPS), and integer units 414 preferably operate at a speed of 32billion operations per second (32 GOPS).

Local memory 406 is not a cache memory. Local memory 406 is preferablyconstructed as an SRAM. Cache coherency support for an SPU isunnecessary. A PU may require cache coherency support for direct memoryaccesses initiated by the PU. Cache coherency support is not required,however, for direct memory accesses initiated by an SPU or for accessesfrom and to external devices.

SPU 402 further includes bus 404 for transmitting applications and datato and from the SPU. In a preferred embodiment, this bus is 1,024 bitswide. SPU 402 further includes internal busses 408, 420 and 418. In apreferred embodiment, bus 408 has a width of 256 bits and providescommunications between local memory 406 and registers 410. Busses 420and 418 provide communications between, respectively, registers 410 andfloating point units 412, and registers 410 and integer units 414. In apreferred embodiment, the width of busses 418 and 420 from registers 410to the floating point or integer units is 384 bits, and the width ofbusses 418 and 420 from the floating point or integer units to registers410 is 128 bits. The larger width of these busses from registers 410 tothe floating point or integer units than from these units to registers410 accommodates the larger data flow from registers 410 duringprocessing. A maximum of three words are needed for each calculation.The result of each calculation, however, normally is only one word.

FIGS. 5-10 further illustrate the modular structure of the processors ofthe members of network 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a processormay comprise a single PU 502. As discussed above, this PU typicallycomprises a PU, DMAC and eight SPUs. Each SPU includes local storage(LS). On the other hand, a processor may comprise the structure ofvisualizer (VS) 505. As shown in FIG. 5, VS 505 comprises PU 512, DMAC514 and four SPUs, namely, SPU 516, SPU 518, SPU 520 and SPU 522. Thespace within the chip package normally occupied by the other four SPUsof a PU is occupied in this case by pixel engine 508, image cache 510and cathode ray tube controller (CRTC) 504. Depending upon the speed ofcommunications required for PU 502 or VS 505, optical interface 506 alsomay be included on the chip package.

Using this standardized, modular structure, numerous other variations ofprocessors can be constructed easily and efficiently. For example, theprocessor shown in FIG. 6 comprises two chip packages, namely, chippackage 602 comprising a BE and chip package 604 comprising four VSs.Input/output (I/O) 606 provides an interface between the BE of chippackage 602 and network 104. Bus 608 provides communications betweenchip package 602 and chip package 604. Input output processor (IOP) 610controls the flow of data into and out of I/O 606. I/O 606 may befabricated as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Theoutput from the VSs is video signal 612.

FIG. 7 illustrates a chip package for a BE 702 with two opticalinterfaces 704 and 706 for providing ultra high speed communications tothe other members of network 104 (or other chip packages locallyconnected). BE 702 can function as, e.g., a server on network 104.

The chip package of FIG. 8 comprises two PEs 802 and 804 and two VSs 806and 808. An I/O 810 provides an interface between the chip package andnetwork 104. The output from the chip package is a video signal. Thisconfiguration may function as, e.g., a graphics work station.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another configuration. This configurationcontains one-half of the processing power of the configurationillustrated in FIG. 8. Instead of two PUs, one PE 902 is provided, andinstead of two VSs, one VS 904 is provided. I/O 906 has one-half thebandwidth of the I/O illustrated in FIG. 8. Such a processor also mayfunction, however, as a graphics work station.

A final configuration is shown in FIG. 10. This processor consists ofonly a single VS 1002 and an I/O 1004. This configuration may functionas, e.g., a PDA.

FIG. 11A illustrates the integration of optical interfaces into a chippackage of a processor of network 104. These optical interfaces convertoptical signals to electrical signals and electrical signals to opticalsignals and can be constructed from a variety of materials including,e.g., gallium arsinide, aluminum gallium arsinide, germanium and otherelements or compounds. As shown in this figure, optical interfaces 1104and 1106 are fabricated on the chip package of BE 1102. BE bus 1108provides communication among the PUs of BE 1102, namely, PE 1110, PE1112, PE 1114, PE 1116, and these optical interfaces. Optical interface1104 includes two ports, namely, port 1118 and port 1120, and opticalinterface 1106 also includes two ports, namely, port 1122 and port 1124.Ports 1118, 1120, 1122 and 1124 are connected to, respectively, opticalwave guides 1126, 1128, 1130 and 1132. Optical signals are transmittedto and from BE 1102 through these optical wave guides via the ports ofoptical interfaces 1104 and 1106.

A plurality of BEs can be connected together in various configurationsusing such optical wave guides and the four optical ports of each BE.For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, two or more BEs, e.g., BE 1152, BE1154 and BE 1156, can be connected serially through such optical ports.In this example, optical interface 1166 of BE 1152 is connected throughits optical ports to the optical ports of optical interface 1160 of BE1154. In a similar manner, the optical ports of optical interface 1162on BE 1154 are connected to the optical ports of optical interface 1164of BE 1156.

A matrix configuration is illustrated in FIG. 11C. In thisconfiguration, the optical interface of each BE is connected to twoother BEs. As shown in this figure, one of the optical ports of opticalinterface 1188 of BE 1172 is connected to an optical port of opticalinterface 1182 of BE 1176. The other optical port of optical interface1188 is connected to an optical port of optical interface 1184 of BE1178. In a similar manner, one optical port of optical interface 1190 ofBE 1174 is connected to the other optical port of optical interface 1184of BE 1178. The other optical port of optical interface 1190 isconnected to an optical port of optical interface 1186 of BE 1180. Thismatrix configuration can be extended in a similar manner to other BEs.

Using either a serial configuration or a matrix configuration, aprocessor for network 104 can be constructed of any desired size andpower. Of course, additional ports can be added to the opticalinterfaces of the BEs, or to processors having a greater or lessernumber of PUs than a BE, to form other configurations.

FIG. 12A illustrates the control system and structure for the DRAM of aBE. A similar control system and structure is employed in processorshaving other sizes and containing more or less PUs. As shown in thisfigure, a cross-bar switch connects each DMAC 1210 of the four PUscomprising BE 1201 to eight bank controls 1206. Each bank control 1206controls eight banks 1208 (only four are shown in the figure) of DRAM1204. DRAM 1204, therefore, comprises a total of sixty-four banks. In apreferred embodiment, DRAM 1204 has a capacity of 64 megabytes, and eachbank has a capacity of 1 megabyte. The smallest addressable unit withineach bank, in this preferred embodiment, is a block of 1024 bits.

BE 1201 also includes switch unit 1212. Switch unit 1212 enables otherSPUs on BEs closely coupled to BE 1201 to access DRAM 1204. A second BE,therefore, can be closely coupled to a first BE, and each SPU of each BEcan address twice the number of memory locations normally accessible toan SPU. The direct reading or writing of data from or to the DRAM of afirst BE from or to the DRAM of a second BE can occur through a switchunit such as switch unit 1212.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12B, to accomplish such writing, the SPUof a first BE, e.g., SPU 1220 of BE 1222, issues a write command to amemory location of a DRAM of a second BE, e.g., DRAM 1228 of BE 1226(rather than, as in the usual case, to DRAM 1224 of BE 1222). DMAC 1230of BE 1222 sends the write command through cross-bar switch 1221 to bankcontrol 1234, and bank control 1234 transmits the command to an externalport 1232 connected to bank control 1234. DMAC 1238 of BE 1226 receivesthe write command and transfers this command to switch unit 1240 of BE1226. Switch unit 1240 identifies the DRAM address contained in thewrite command and sends the data for storage in this address throughbank control 1242 of BE 1226 to bank 1244 of DRAM 1228. Switch unit1240, therefore, enables both DRAM 1224 and DRAM 1228 to function as asingle memory space for the SPUs of BE 1226.

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the sixty-four banks of a DRAM. Thesebanks are arranged into eight rows, namely, rows 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308,1310, 1312, 1314 and 1316 and eight columns, namely, columns 1320, 1322,1324, 1326, 1328, 1330, 1332 and 1334. Each row is controlled by a bankcontroller. Each bank controller, therefore, controls eight megabytes ofmemory.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate different configurations for storing andaccessing the smallest addressable memory unit of a DRAM, e.g., a blockof 1024 bits. In FIG. 14A, DMAC 1402 stores in a single bank 1404 eight1024 bit blocks 1406. In FIG. 14B, on the other hand, while DMAC 1412reads and writes blocks of data containing 1024 bits, these blocks areinterleaved between two banks, namely, bank 1414 and bank 1416. Each ofthese banks, therefore, contains sixteen blocks of data, and each blockof data contains 512 bits. This interleaving can facilitate fasteraccessing of the DRAM and is useful in the processing of certainapplications.

FIG. 15 illustrates the architecture for a DMAC 1504 within a PE. Asillustrated in this figure, the structural hardware comprising DMAC 1506is distributed throughout the PE such that each SPU 1502 has directaccess to a structural node 1504 of DMAC 1506. Each node executes thelogic appropriate for memory accesses by the SPU to which the node hasdirect access.

FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of the DMAC, namely, anon-distributed architecture. In this case, the structural hardware ofDMAC 1606 is centralized. SPUs 1602 and PU 1604 communicate with DMAC1606 via local PE bus 1607. DMAC 1606 is connected through a cross-barswitch to a bus 1608. Bus 1608 is connected to DRAM 1610.

As discussed above, all of the multiple SPUs of a PU can independentlyaccess data in the shared DRAM. As a result, a first SPU could beoperating upon particular data in its local storage at a time duringwhich a second SPU requests these data. If the data were provided to thesecond SPU at that time from the shared DRAM, the data could be invalidbecause of the first SPU's ongoing processing which could change thedata's value. If the second processor received the data from the sharedDRAM at that time, therefore, the second processor could generate anerroneous result. For example, the data could be a specific value for aglobal variable. If the first processor changed that value during itsprocessing, the second processor would receive an outdated value. Ascheme is necessary, therefore, to synchronize the SPUs' reading andwriting of data from and to memory locations within the shared DRAM.This scheme must prevent the reading of data from a memory location uponwhich another SPU currently is operating in its local storage and,therefore, which are not current, and the writing of data into a memorylocation storing current data.

To overcome these problems, for each addressable memory location of theDRAM, an additional segment of memory is allocated in the DRAM forstoring status information relating to the data stored in the memorylocation. This status information includes a full/empty (F/E) bit, theidentification of an SPU (SPU ID) requesting data from the memorylocation and the address of the SPU's local storage (LS address) towhich the requested data should be read. An addressable memory locationof the DRAM can be of any size. In a preferred embodiment, this size is1024 bits.

The setting of the F/E bit to 1 indicates that the data stored in theassociated memory location are current. The setting of the F/E bit to 0,on the other hand, indicates that the data stored in the associatedmemory location are not current. If an SPU requests the data when thisbit is set to 0, the SPU is prevented from immediately reading the data.In this case, an SPU ID identifying the SPU requesting the data, and anLS address identifying the memory location within the local storage ofthis SPU to which the data are to be read when the data become current,are entered into the additional memory segment.

An additional memory segment also is allocated for each memory locationwithin the local storage of the SPUs. This additional memory segmentstores one bit, designated the “busy bit.” The busy bit is used toreserve the associated LS memory location for the storage of specificdata to be retrieved from the DRAM. If the busy bit is set to 1 for aparticular memory location in local storage, the SPU can use this memorylocation only for the writing of these specific data. On the other hand,if the busy bit is set to 0 for a particular memory location in localstorage, the SPU can use this memory location for the writing of anydata.

Examples of the manner in which the F/E bit, the SPU ID, the LS addressand the busy bit are used to synchronize the reading and writing of datafrom and to the shared DRAM of a PU are illustrated in FIGS. 17-31.

As shown in FIG. 17, one or more PUs, e.g., PE 1720, interact with DRAM1702. PE 1720 includes SPU 1722 and SPU 1740. SPU 1722 includes controllogic 1724, and SPU 1740 includes control logic 1742. SPU 1722 alsoincludes local storage 1726. This local storage includes a plurality ofaddressable memory locations 1728. SPU 1740 includes local storage 1744,and this local storage also includes a plurality of addressable memorylocations 1746. All of these addressable memory locations preferably are1024 bits in size.

An additional segment of memory is associated with each LS addressablememory location. For example, memory segments 1729 and 1734 areassociated with, respectively, local memory locations 1731 and 1732, andmemory segment 1752 is associated with local memory location 1750. A“busy bit,” as discussed above, is stored in each of these additionalmemory segments. Local memory location 1732 is shown with several Xs toindicate that this location contains data.

DRAM 1702 contains a plurality of addressable memory locations 1704,including memory locations 1706 and 1708. These memory locationspreferably also are 1024 bits in size. An additional segment of memoryalso is associated with each of these memory locations. For example,additional memory segment 1760 is associated with memory location 1706,and additional memory segment 1762 is associated with memory location1708. Status information relating to the data stored in each memorylocation is stored in the memory segment associated with the memorylocation. This status information includes, as discussed above, the F/Ebit, the SPU ID and the LS address. For example, for memory location1708, this status information includes F/E bit 1712, SPU ID 1714 and LSaddress 1716.

Using the status information and the busy bit, the synchronized readingand writing of data from and to the shared DRAM among the SPUs of a PU,or a group of PUs, can be achieved.

FIG. 18 illustrates the initiation of the synchronized writing of datafrom LS memory location 1732 of SPU 1722 to memory location 1708 of DRAM1702. Control 1724 of SPU 1722 initiates the synchronized writing ofthese data. Since memory location 1708 is empty, F/E bit 1712 is set to0. As a result, the data in LS location 1732 can be written into memorylocation 1708. If this bit were set to 1 to indicate that memorylocation 1708 is full and contains current, valid data, on the otherhand, control 1722 would receive an error message and be prohibited fromwriting data into this memory location.

The result of the successful synchronized writing of the data intomemory location 1708 is shown in FIG. 19. The written data are stored inmemory location 1708, and F/E bit 1712 is set to 1. This settingindicates that memory location 1708 is full and that the data in thismemory location are current and valid.

FIG. 20 illustrates the initiation of the synchronized reading of datafrom memory location 1708 of DRAM 1702 to LS memory location 1750 oflocal storage 1744. To initiate this reading, the busy bit in memorysegment 1752 of LS memory location 1750 is set to 1 to reserve thismemory location for these data. The setting of this busy bit to 1prevents SPU 1740 from storing other data in this memory location.

As shown in FIG. 21, control logic 1742 next issues a synchronize readcommand for memory location 1708 of DRAM 1702. Since F/E bit 1712associated with this memory location is set to 1, the data stored inmemory location 1708 are considered current and valid. As a result, inpreparation for transferring the data from memory location 1708 to LSmemory location 1750, F/E bit 1712 is set to 0. This setting is shown inFIG. 22. The setting of this bit to 0 indicates that, following thereading of these data, the data in memory location 1708 will be invalid.

As shown in FIG. 23, the data within memory location 1708 next are readfrom memory location 1708 to LS memory location 1750. FIG. 24 shows thefinal state. A copy of the data in memory location 1708 is stored in LSmemory location 1750. F/E bit 1712 is set to 0 to indicate that the datain memory location 1708 are invalid. This invalidity is the result ofalterations to these data to be made by SPU 1740. The busy bit in memorysegment 1752 also is set to 0. This setting indicates that LS memorylocation 1750 now is available to SPU 1740 for any purpose, i.e., thisLS memory location no longer is in a reserved state waiting for thereceipt of specific data. LS memory location 1750, therefore, now can beaccessed by SPU 1740 for any purpose.

FIGS. 25-31 illustrate the synchronized reading of data from a memorylocation of DRAM 1702, e.g., memory location 1708, to an LS memorylocation of an SPU's local storage, e.g., LS memory location 1752 oflocal storage 1744, when the F/E bit for the memory location of DRAM1702 is set to 0 to indicate that the data in this memory location arenot current or valid. As shown in FIG. 25, to initiate this transfer,the busy bit in memory segment 1752 of LS memory location 1750 is set to1 to reserve this LS memory location for this transfer of data. As shownin FIG. 26, control logic 1742 next issues a synchronize read commandfor memory location 1708 of DRAM 1702. Since the F/E bit associated withthis memory location, F/E bit 1712, is set to 0, the data stored inmemory location 1708 are invalid. As a result, a signal is transmittedto control logic 1742 to block the immediate reading of data from thismemory location.

As shown in FIG. 27, the SPU ID 1714 and LS address 1716 for this readcommand next are written into memory segment 1762. In this case, the SPUID for SPU 1740 and the LS memory location for LS memory location 1750are written into memory segment 1762. When the data within memorylocation 1708 become current, therefore, this SPU ID and LS memorylocation are used for determining the location to which the current dataare to be transmitted.

The data in memory location 1708 become valid and current when an SPUwrites data into this memory location. The synchronized writing of datainto memory location 1708 from, e.g., memory location 1732 of SPU 1722,is illustrated in FIG. 28. This synchronized writing of these data ispermitted because F/E bit 1712 for this memory location is set to 0.

As shown in FIG. 29, following this writing, the data in memory location1708 become current and valid. SPU ID 1714 and LS address 1716 frommemory segment 1762, therefore, immediately are read from memory segment1762, and this information then is deleted from this segment. F/E bit1712 also is set to 0 in anticipation of the immediate reading of thedata in memory location 1708. As shown in FIG. 30, upon reading SPU ID1714 and LS address 1716, this information immediately is used forreading the valid data in memory location 1708 to LS memory location1750 of SPU 1740. The final state is shown in FIG. 31. This figure showsthe valid data from memory location 1708 copied to memory location 1750,the busy bit in memory segment 1752 set to 0 and F/E bit 1712 in memorysegment 1762 set to 0. The setting of this busy bit to 0 enables LSmemory location 1750 now to be accessed by SPU 1740 for any purpose. Thesetting of this F/E bit to 0 indicates that the data in memory location1708 no longer are current and valid.

FIG. 32 summarizes the operations described above and the various statesof a memory location of the DRAM based upon the states of the F/E bit,the SPU ID and the LS address stored in the memory segment correspondingto the memory location. The memory location can have three states. Thesethree states are an empty state 3280 in which the F/E bit is set to 0and no information is provided for the SPU ID or the LS address, a fullstate 3282 in which the F/E bit is set to 1 and no information isprovided for the SPU ID or LS address and a blocking state 3284 in whichthe F/E bit is set to 0 and information is provided for the SPU ID andLS address.

As shown in this figure, in empty state 3280, a synchronized writingoperation is permitted and results in a transition to full state 3282. Asynchronized reading operation, however, results in a transition to theblocking state 3284 because the data in the memory location, when thememory location is in the empty state, are not current.

In full state 3282, a synchronized reading operation is permitted andresults in a transition to empty state 3280. On the other hand, asynchronized writing operation in full state 3282 is prohibited toprevent overwriting of valid data. If such a writing operation isattempted in this state, no state change occurs and an error message istransmitted to the SPU's corresponding control logic.

In blocking state 3284, the synchronized writing of data into the memorylocation is permitted and results in a transition to empty state 3280.On the other hand, a synchronized reading operation in blocking state3284 is prohibited to prevent a conflict with the earlier synchronizedreading operation which resulted in this state. If a synchronizedreading operation is attempted in blocking state 3284, no state changeoccurs and an error message is transmitted to the SPU's correspondingcontrol logic.

The scheme described above for the synchronized reading and writing ofdata from and to the shared DRAM also can be used for eliminating thecomputational resources normally dedicated by a processor for readingdata from, and writing data to, external devices. This input/output(I/O) function could be performed by a PU. However, using a modificationof this synchronization scheme, an SPU running an appropriate programcan perform this function. For example, using this scheme, a PUreceiving an interrupt request for the transmission of data from an I/Ointerface initiated by an external device can delegate the handling ofthis request to this SPU. The SPU then issues a synchronize writecommand to the I/O interface. This interface in turn signals theexternal device that data now can be written into the DRAM. The SPU nextissues a synchronize read command to the DRAM to set the DRAM's relevantmemory space into a blocking state. The SPU also sets to 1 the busy bitsfor the memory locations of the SPU's local storage needed to receivethe data. In the blocking state, the additional memory segmentsassociated with the DRAM's relevant memory space contain the SPU's IDand the address of the relevant memory locations of the SPU's localstorage. The external device next issues a synchronize write command towrite the data directly to the DRAM's relevant memory space. Since thismemory space is in the blocking state, the data are immediately read outof this space into the memory locations of the SPU's local storageidentified in the additional memory segments. The busy bits for thesememory locations then are set to 0. When the external device completeswriting of the data, the SPU issues a signal to the PU that thetransmission is complete.

Using this scheme, therefore, data transfers from external devices canbe processed with minimal computational load on the PU. The SPUdelegated this function, however, should be able to issue an interruptrequest to the PU, and the external device should have direct access tothe DRAM.

The DRAM of each PU includes a plurality of “sandboxes.” A sandboxdefines an area of the shared DRAM beyond which a particular SPU, or setof SPUs, cannot read or write data. These sandboxes provide securityagainst the corruption of data being processed by one SPU by data beingprocessed by another SPU. These sandboxes also permit the downloading ofsoftware cells from network 104 into a particular sandbox without thepossibility of the software cell corrupting data throughout the DRAM. Inthe present invention, the sandboxes are implemented in the hardware ofthe DRAMs and DMACs. By implementing these sandboxes in this hardwarerather than in software, advantages in speed and security are obtained.

The PU of a PU controls the sandboxes assigned to the SPUs. Since the PUnormally operates only trusted programs, such as an operating system,this scheme does not jeopardize security. In accordance with thisscheme, the PU builds and maintains a key control table. This keycontrol table is illustrated in FIG. 33. As shown in this figure, eachentry in key control table 3302 contains an identification (ID) 3304 foran SPU, an SPU key 3306 for that SPU and a key mask 3308. The use ofthis key mask is explained below. Key control table 3302 preferably isstored in a relatively fast memory, such as a static random accessmemory (SRAM), and is associated with the DMAC. The entries in keycontrol table 3302 are controlled by the PU. When an SPU requests thewriting of data to, or the reading of data from, a particular storagelocation of the DRAM, the DMAC evaluates the SPU key 3306 assigned tothat SPU in key control table 3302 against a memory access keyassociated with that storage location.

As shown in FIG. 34, a dedicated memory segment 3410 is assigned to eachaddressable storage location 3406 of a DRAM 3402. A memory access key3412 for the storage location is stored in this dedicated memorysegment. As discussed above, a further additional dedicated memorysegment 3408, also associated with each addressable storage location3406, stores synchronization information for writing data to, andreading data from, the storage-location.

In operation, an SPU issues a DMA command to the DMAC. This commandincludes the address of a storage location 3406 of DRAM 3402. Beforeexecuting this command, the DMAC looks up the requesting SPU's key 3306in key control table 3302 using the SPU's ID 3304. The DMAC thencompares the SPU key 3306 of the requesting SPU to the memory access key3412 stored in the dedicated memory segment 3410 associated with thestorage location of the DRAM to which the SPU seeks access. If the twokeys do not match, the DMA command is not executed. On the other hand,if the two keys match, the DMA command proceeds and the requested memoryaccess is executed.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 35. In this embodiment,the PU also maintains a memory access control table 3502. Memory accesscontrol table 3502 contains an entry for each sandbox within the DRAM.In the particular example of FIG. 35, the DRAM contains 64 sandboxes.Each entry in memory access control table 3502 contains anidentification (ID) 3504 for a sandbox, a base memory address 3506, asandbox size 3508, a memory access key 3510 and an access key mask 3512.Base memory address 3506 provides the address in the DRAM which starts aparticular memory sandbox. Sandbox size 3508 provides the size of thesandbox and, therefore, the endpoint of the particular sandbox.

FIG. 36 is a flow diagram of the steps for executing a DMA command usingkey control table 3302 and memory access control table 3502. In step3602, an SPU issues a DMA command to the DMAC for access to a particularmemory location or locations within a sandbox. This command includes asandbox ID 3504 identifying the particular sandbox for which access isrequested. In step 3604, the DMAC looks up the requesting SPU's key 3306in key control table 3302 using the SPU's ID 3304. In step 3606, theDMAC uses the sandbox ID 3504 in the command to look up in memory accesscontrol table 3502 the memory access key 3510 associated with thatsandbox. In step 3608, the DMAC compares the SPU key 3306 assigned tothe requesting SPU to the access key 3510 associated with the sandbox.In step 3610, a determination is made of whether the two keys match. Ifthe two keys do not match, the process moves to step 3612 where the DMAcommand does not proceed and an error message is sent to either therequesting SPU, the PU or both. On the other hand, if at step 3610 thetwo keys are found to match, the process proceeds to step 3614 where theDMAC executes the DMA command.

The key masks for the SPU keys and the memory access keys providegreater flexibility to this system. A key mask for a key converts amasked bit into a wildcard. For example, if the key mask 3308 associatedwith an SPU key 3306 has its last two bits set to “mask,” designated by,e.g., setting these bits in key mask 3308 to 1, the SPU key can beeither a 1 or a 0 and still match the memory access key. For example,the SPU key might be 1010. This SPU key normally allows access only to asandbox having an access key of 1010. If the SPU key mask for this SPUkey is set to 0001, however, then this SPU key can be used to gainaccess to sandboxes having an access key of either 1010 or 1011.Similarly, an access key 1010 with a mask set to 0001 can be accessed byan SPU with an SPU key of either 1010 or 1011. Since both the SPU keymask and the memory key mask can be used simultaneously, numerousvariations of accessibility by the SPUs to the sandboxes can beestablished.

The present invention also provides a new programming model for theprocessors of system 101. This programming model employs software cells102. These cells can be transmitted to any processor on network 104 forprocessing. This new programming model also utilizes the unique modulararchitecture of system 101 and the processors of system 101.

Software cells are processed directly by the SPUs from the SPU's localstorage. The SPUs do not directly operate on any data or programs in theDRAM. Data and programs in the DRAM are read into the SPU's localstorage before the SPU processes these data and programs. The SPU'slocal storage, therefore, includes a program counter, stack and othersoftware elements for executing these programs. The PU controls the SPUsby issuing direct memory access (DMA) commands to the DMAC.

The structure of software cells 102 is illustrated in FIG. 37. As shownin this figure, a software cell, e.g., software cell 3702, containsrouting information section and body 3706. The information contained inrouting information section 3704 is dependent upon the protocol ofnetwork 104. Routing information section 3704 contains header 3708,destination ID 3710, source ID 3712 and reply ID 3714. The destinationID includes a network address. Under the TCP/IP protocol, e.g., thenetwork address is an Internet protocol (IP) address. Destination ID3710 further includes the identity of the PU and SPU to which the cellshould be transmitted for processing. Source ID 3712 contains a networkaddress and identifies the PU and SPU from which the cell originated toenable the destination PU and SPU to obtain additional informationregarding the cell if necessary. Reply ID 3714 contains a networkaddress and identifies the PU and SPU to which queries regarding thecell, and the result of processing of the cell, should be directed.

Cell body 3706 contains information independent of the network'sprotocol. The exploded portion of FIG. 37 shows the details of cell body3706. Header 3720 of cell body identifies the start of the cell body.Cell interface contains information necessary for the cell'sutilization. This information includes global unique ID 3724, requiredSPUs 3726, sandbox size 3728 and previous cell ID 3730.

Global unique ID 3724 uniquely identifies software cell throughoutnetwork 104. Global unique ID 3724 is generated on the basis of sourceID 3712, e.g. the unique identification of a PU or SPU within source ID3712, and the time and date of generation or transmission of softwarecell 3702. Required SPUs 3726 provides the minimum number of SPUsrequired to execute the cell. Sandbox size 3728 provides the amount ofprotected memory in the required SPUs' associated DRAM necessary toexecute the cell. Previous cell ID 3730 provides the identity of aprevious cell in a group of cells requiring sequential execution, e.g.,streaming data.

Implementation section 3732 contains the cell's core information. Thisinformation includes DMA command list 3734, programs 3736 and data 3738.Programs 3736 contain the programs to be run by the SPUs (called“spulets”), e.g., SPU programs 3760 and 3762, and data 3738 contain thedata to be processed with these programs. DMA command list 3734 containsa series of DMA commands needed to start the programs. These DMAcommands include DMA commands 3740, 3750, 3755 and 3758. The PU issuesthese DMA commands to the DMAC.

DMA command 3740 includes VID 3742. VID 3742 is the virtual ID of an SPUwhich is mapped to a physical ID when the DMA commands are issued. DMAcommand 3740 also includes load command 3744 and address 3746. Loadcommand 3744 directs the SPU to read particular information from theDRAM into local storage. Address 3746 provides the virtual address inthe DRAM containing this information. The information can be, e.g.,programs from programs section 3736, data from data section 3738 orother data. Finally, DMA command 3740 includes local storage address3748. This address identifies the address in local storage where theinformation should be loaded. DMA commands 3750 contain similarinformation. Other DMA commands are also possible.

DMA command list 3734 also includes a series of kick commands, e.g.,kick commands 3755 and 3758. Kick commands are commands issued by a PUto an SPU to initiate the processing of a cell. DMA kick command 3755includes virtual SPU ID 3752, kick command 3754 and program counter3756. Virtual SPU ID 3752 identifies the SPU to be kicked, kick command3754 provides the relevant kick command and program counter 3756provides the address for the program counter for executing the program.DMA kick command 3758 provides similar information for the same SPU oranother SPU.

As noted, the PUs treat the SPUs as independent processors, notco-processors. To control processing by the SPUs, therefore, the PU usescommands analogous to remote procedure calls. These commands aredesignated “SPU Remote Procedure Calls” (SRPCs). A PU implements an SRPCby issuing a series of DMA commands to the DMAC. The DMAC loads the SPUprogram and its associated stack frame into the local storage of an SPU.The PU then issues an initial kick to the SPU to execute the SPUProgram.

FIG. 38 illustrates the steps of an SRPC for executing an spulet. Thesteps performed by the PU in initiating processing of the spulet by adesignated SPU are shown in the first portion 3802 of FIG. 38, and thesteps performed by the designated SPU in processing the spulet are shownin the second portion 3804 of FIG. 38.

In step 3810, the PU evaluates the spulet and then designates an SPU forprocessing the spulet. In step 3812, the PU allocates space in the DRAMfor executing the spulet by issuing a DMA command to the DMAC to setmemory access keys for the necessary sandbox or sandboxes. In step 3814,the PU enables an interrupt request for the designated SPU to signalcompletion of the spulet. In step 3818, the PU issues a DMA command tothe DMAC to load the spulet from the DRAM to the local storage of theSPU. In step 3820, the DMA command is executed, and the spulet is readfrom the DRAM to the SPU's local storage. In step 3822, the PU issues aDMA command to the DMAC to load the stack frame associated with thespulet from the DRAM to the SPU's local storage. In step 3823, the DMAcommand is executed, and the stack frame is read from the DRAM to theSPU's local storage. In step 3824, the PU issues a DMA command for theDMAC to assign a key to the SPU to allow the SPU to read and write datafrom and to the hardware sandbox or sandboxes designated in step 3812.In step 3826, the DMAC updates the key control table (KTAB) with the keyassigned to the SPU. In step 3828, the PU issues a DMA command “kick” tothe SPU to start processing of the program. Other DMA commands may beissued by the PU in the execution of a particular SRPC depending uponthe particular spulet.

As indicated above, second portion 3804 of FIG. 38 illustrates the stepsperformed by the SPU in executing the spulet. In step 3830, the SPUbegins to execute the spulet in response to the kick command issued atstep 3828. In step 3832, the SPU, at the direction of the spulet,evaluates the spulet's associated stack frame. In step 3834, the SPUissues multiple DMA commands to the DMAC to load data designated asneeded by the stack frame from the DRAM to the SPU's local storage. Instep 3836, these DMA commands are executed, and the data are read fromthe DRAM to the SPU's local storage. In step 3838, the SPU executes thespulet and generates a result. In step 3840, the SPU issues a DMAcommand to the DMAC to store the result in the DRAM. In step 3842, theDMA command is executed and the result of the spulet is written from theSPU's local storage to the DRAM. In step 3844, the SPU issues aninterrupt request to the PU to signal that the SRPC has been completed.

The ability of SPUs to perform tasks independently under the directionof a PU enables a PU to dedicate a group of SPUs, and the memoryresources associated with a group of SPUs, to performing extended tasks.For example, a PU can dedicate one or more SPUs, and a group of memorysandboxes associated with these one or more SPUs, to receiving datatransmitted over network 104 over an extended period and to directingthe data received during this period to one or more other SPUs and theirassociated memory sandboxes for further processing. This ability isparticularly advantageous to processing streaming data transmitted overnetwork 104, e.g., streaming MPEG or streaming ATRAC audio or videodata. A PU can dedicate one or more SPUs and their associated memorysandboxes to receiving these data and one or more other SPUs and theirassociated memory sandboxes to decompressing and further processingthese data. In other words, the PU can establish a dedicated pipelinerelationship among a group of SPUs and their associated memory sandboxesfor processing such data.

In order for such processing to be performed efficiently, however, thepipeline's dedicated SPUs and memory sandboxes should remain dedicatedto the pipeline during periods in which processing of spulets comprisingthe data stream does not occur. In other words, the dedicated SPUs andtheir associated sandboxes should be placed in a reserved state duringthese periods. The reservation of an SPU and its associated memorysandbox or sandboxes upon completion of processing of an spulet iscalled a “resident termination.” A resident termination occurs inresponse to an instruction from a PU.

FIGS. 39, 40A and 40B illustrate the establishment of a dedicatedpipeline structure comprising a group of SPUs and their associatedsandboxes for the processing of streaming data, e.g., streaming MPEGdata. As shown in FIG. 39, the components of this pipeline structureinclude PE 3902 and DRAM 3918. PE 3902 includes PU 3904, DMAC 3906 and aplurality of SPUs, including SPU 3908, SPU 3910 and SPU 3912.Communications among PU 3904, DMAC 3906 and these SPUs occur through PEbus 3914. Wide bandwidth bus 3916 connects DMAC 3906 to DRAM 3918. DRAM3918 includes a plurality of sandboxes, e.g., sandbox 3920, sandbox3922, sandbox 3924 and sandbox 3926.

FIG. 40A illustrates the steps for establishing the dedicated pipeline.In step 4010, PU 3904 assigns SPU 3908 to process a network spulet. Anetwork spulet comprises a program for processing the network protocolof network 104. In this case, this protocol is the Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). TCP/IP data packets conforming tothis protocol are transmitted over network 104. Upon receipt, SPU 3908processes these packets and assembles the data in the packets intosoftware cells 102. In step 4012, PU 3904 instructs SPU 3908 to performresident terminations upon the completion of the processing of thenetwork spulet. In step 4014, PU 3904 assigns PUs 3910 and 3912 toprocess MPEG spulets. In step 4015, PU 3904 instructs SPUs 3910 and 3912also to perform resident terminations upon the completion of theprocessing of the MPEG spulets. In step 4016, PU 3904 designates sandbox3920 as a source sandbox for access by SPU 3908 and SPU 3910. In step4018, PU 3904 designates sandbox 3922 as a destination sandbox foraccess by SPU 3910. In step 4020, PU 3904 designates sandbox 3924 as asource sandbox for access by SPU 3908 and SPU 3912. In step 4022, PU3904 designates sandbox 3926 as a destination sandbox for access by SPU3912. In step 4024, SPU 3910 and SPU 3912 send synchronize read commandsto blocks of memory within, respectively, source sandbox 3920 and sourcesandbox 3924 to set these blocks of memory into the blocking state. Theprocess finally moves to step 4028 where establishment of the dedicatedpipeline is complete and the resources dedicated to the pipeline arereserved. SPUs 3908, 3910 and 3912 and their associated sandboxes 3920,3922, 3924 and 3926, therefore, enter the reserved state.

FIG. 40B illustrates the steps for processing streaming MPEG data bythis dedicated pipeline. In step 4030, SPU 3908, which processes thenetwork spulet, receives in its local storage TCP/IP data packets fromnetwork 104. In step 4032, SPU 3908 processes these TCP/IP data packetsand assembles the data within these packets into software cells 102. Instep 4034, SPU 3908 examines header 3720 (FIG. 37) of the software cellsto determine whether the cells contain MPEG data. If a cell does notcontain MPEG data, then, in step 4036, SPU 3908 transmits the cell to ageneral purpose sandbox designated within DRAM 3918 for processing otherdata by other SPUs not included within the dedicated pipeline. SPU 3908also notifies PU 3904 of this transmission.

On the other hand, if a software cell contains MPEG data, then, in step4038, SPU 3908 examines previous cell ID 3730 (FIG. 37) of the cell toidentify the MPEG data stream to which the cell belongs. In step 4040,SPU 3908 chooses an SPU of the dedicated pipeline for processing of thecell. In this case, SPU 3908 chooses SPU 3910 to process these data.This choice is based upon previous cell ID 3730 and load balancingfactors. For example, if previous cell ID 3730 indicates that theprevious software cell of the MPEG data stream to which the softwarecell belongs was sent to SPU 3910 for processing, then the presentsoftware cell normally also will be sent to SPU 3910 for processing. Instep 4042, SPU 3908 issues a synchronize write command to write the MPEGdata to sandbox 3920. Since this sandbox previously was set to theblocking state, the MPEG data, in step 4044, automatically is read fromsandbox 3920 to the local storage of SPU 3910. In step 4046, SPU 3910processes the MPEG data in its local storage to generate video data. Instep 4048, SPU 3910 writes the video data to sandbox 3922. In step 4050,SPU 3910 issues a synchronize read command to sandbox 3920 to preparethis sandbox to receive additional MPEG data. In step 4052, SPU 3910processes a resident termination. This processing causes this SPU toenter the reserved state during which the SPU waits to processadditional MPEG data in the MPEG data stream.

Other dedicated structures can be established among a group of SPUs andtheir associated sandboxes for processing other types of data. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 41, a dedicated group of SPUs, e.g., SPUs4102, 4108 and 4114, can be established for performing geometrictransformations upon three dimensional objects to generate twodimensional display lists. These two dimensional display lists can befurther processed (rendered) by other SPUs to generate pixel data. Toperform this processing, sandboxes are dedicated to SPUs 4102, 4108 and4114 for storing the three dimensional objects and the display listsresulting from the processing of these objects. For example, sourcesandboxes 4104, 4110 and 4116 are dedicated to storing the threedimensional objects processed by, respectively, SPU 4102, SPU 4108 andSPU 4114. In a similar manner, destination sandboxes 4106, 4112 and 4118are dedicated to storing the display lists resulting from the processingof these three dimensional objects by, respectively, SPU 4102, SPU 4108and SPU 4114.

Coordinating SPU 4120 is dedicated to receiving in its local storage thedisplay lists from destination sandboxes 4106, 4112 and 4118. SPU 4120arbitrates among these display lists and sends them to other SPUs forthe rendering of pixel data.

The processors of system 101 also employ an absolute timer. The absolutetimer provides a clock signal to the SPUs and other elements of a PUwhich is both independent of, and faster than, the clock signal drivingthese elements. The use of this absolute timer is illustrated in FIG.42.

As shown in this figure, the absolute timer establishes a time budgetfor the performance of tasks by the SPUs. This time budget provides atime for completing these tasks which is longer than that necessary forthe SPUs' processing of the tasks. As a result, for each task, there is,within the time budget, a busy period and a standby period. All spuletsare written for processing on the basis of this time budget regardlessof the SPUs' actual processing time or speed.

For example, for a particular SPU of a PU, a particular task may beperformed during busy period 4202 of time budget 4204. Since busy period4202 is less than time budget 4204, a standby period 4206 occurs duringthe time budget. During this standby period, the SPU goes into a sleepmode during which less power is consumed by the SPU.

The results of processing a task are not expected by other SPUs, orother elements of a PU, until a time budget 4204 expires. Using the timebudget established by the absolute timer, therefore, the results of theSPUs' processing always are coordinated regardless of the SPUs' actualprocessing speeds.

In the future, the speed of processing by the SPUs will become faster.The time budget established by the absolute timer, however, will remainthe same. For example, as shown in FIG. 42, an SPU in the future willexecute a task in a shorter period and, therefore, will have a longerstandby period. Busy period 4208, therefore, is shorter than busy period4202, and standby period 4210 is longer than standby period 4206.However, since programs are written for processing on the basis of thesame time budget established by the absolute timer, coordination of theresults of processing among the SPUs is maintained. As a result, fasterSPUs can process programs written for slower SPUs without causingconflicts in the times at which the results of this processing areexpected.

In lieu of an absolute timer to establish coordination among the SPUs,the PU, or one or more designated SPUs, can analyze the particularinstructions or microcode being executed by an SPU in processing anspulet for problems in the coordination of the SPUs' parallel processingcreated by enhanced or different operating speeds. “No operation”(“NOOP”) instructions can be inserted into the instructions and executedby some of the SPUs to maintain the proper sequential completion ofprocessing by the SPUs expected by the spulet. By inserting these NOOPsinto the instructions, the correct timing for the SPUs' execution of allinstructions can be maintained.

FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating a processing element having amain processor and a plurality of secondary processors sharing a systemmemory. Processor Element (PE) 4305 includes processing unit (PU) 4310,which, in one embodiment, acts as the main processor and runs anoperating system. Processing unit 4310 may be, for example, a Power PCcore executing a Linux operating system. PE 4305 also includes aplurality of synergistic processing complex's (SPCs) such as SPCs 4345,4365, and 4385. The SPCs include synergistic processing units (SPUs)that act as secondary processing units to PU 4310, a memory storageunit, and local storage. For example, SPC 4345 includes SPU 4360, MMU4355, and local storage 4359; SPC 4365 includes SPU 4370, MMU 4375, andlocal storage 4379; and SPC 4385 includes SPU 4390, MMU 4395, and localstorage 4399.

Each SPC may be configured to perform a different task, and accordingly,in one embodiment, each SPC may be accessed using different instructionsets. If PE 4305 is being used in a wireless communications system, forexample, each SPC may be responsible for separate processing tasks, suchas modulation, chip rate processing, encoding, network interfacing, etc.In another embodiment, the SPCs may have identical instruction sets andmay be used in parallel with each other to perform operations benefitingfrom parallel processing.

PE 4305 may also include level 2 cache, such as L2 cache 4315, for theuse of PU 4310. In addition, PE 4305 includes system memory 4320, whichis shared between PU 4310 and the SPUs. System memory 4320 may store,for example, an image of the running operating system (which may includethe kernel), device drivers, I/O configuration, etc., executingapplications, as well as other data. System memory 4320 includes thelocal storage units of one or more of the SPCs, which are mapped to aregion of system memory 4320. For example, local storage 4359 may bemapped to mapped region 4335, local storage 4379 may be mapped to mappedregion 4340, and local storage 4399 may be mapped to mapped region 4342.PU 4310 and the SPCs communicate with each other and system memory 4320through bus 4317 that is configured to pass data between these devices.

The MMUs are responsible for transferring data between an SPU's localstore and the system memory. In one embodiment, an MMU includes a directmemory access (DMA) controller configured to perform this function. PU4310 may program the MMUs to control which memory regions are availableto each of the MMUs. By changing the mapping available to each of theMMUs, the PU may control which SPU has access to which region of systemmemory 4320. In this manner, the PU may, for example, designate regionsof the system memory as private for the exclusive use of a particularSPU. In one embodiment, the SPUs' local stores may be accessed by PU4310 as well as by the other SPUs using the memory map. In oneembodiment, PU 4310 manages the memory map for the common system memory4320 for all the SPUs. The memory map table may include PU 4310's L2Cache 4315, system memory 4320, as well as the SPUs' shared localstores.

In one embodiment, the SPUs process data under the control of PU 4310.The SPUs may be, for example, digital signal processing cores,microprocessor cores, micro controller cores, etc., or a combination ofthe above cores. Each one of the local stores is a storage areaassociated with a particular SPU. In one embodiment, each SPU canconfigure its local store as a private storage area, a shared storagearea, or an SPU may configure its local store as a partly private andpartly shared storage.

For example, if an SPU requires a substantial amount of local memory,the SPU may allocate 100% of its local store to private memoryaccessible only by that SPU. If, on the other hand, an SPU requires aminimal amount of local memory, the SPU may allocate 10% of its localstore to private memory and the remaining 90% to shared memory. Theshared memory is accessible by PU 4310 and by the other SPUs. An SPU mayreserve part of its local store in order for the SPU to have fast,guaranteed memory access when performing tasks that require such fastaccess. The SPU may also reserve some of its local store as private whenprocessing sensitive data, as is the case, for example, when the SPU isperforming encryption/decryption.

FIG. 44 is a block diagram illustrating a processor element having amain processor and a plurality of secondary processors sharing a commonsystem memory. Processor Element (PE) 4405 includes processing unit (PU)4410, which, in one embodiment, runs the operating system. Processingunit 4410 may be, for example, a Power PC core executing a Linuxoperating system. PE 4405 also includes a plurality of synergisticprocessing complex's (SPCs) such as SPCs 4445 through 4485. Each SPCincludes a synergistic processing unit (SPU), a memory storage unit, andlocal storage. For example, SPC 4445 includes SPU 4460, MMU 4455, andlocal storage 4459; SPC 4465 includes SPU 4470, MMU 4475, and localstorage 4479; and SPC 4485 includes SPU 4490, MMU 4495, and localstorage 4499.

In one embodiment, the SPUs process data under the control of PU 4410.The SPUs may be, for example, digital signal processing cores,microprocessor cores, micro controller cores, etc., or a combination ofthe above cores. In one embodiment, each one of the local stores is astorage area associated with a particular SPU. Each SPU can configureits local store as a private storage area, a shared storage area, or anSPU's local store may be partly private and partly shared.

For example, if an SPU requires a substantial amount of local memory,the SPU may allocate 100% of its local store to private memoryaccessible only by that SPU. If, on the other hand, an SPU requires aminimal amount of local memory, the SPU may allocate 10% of its localstore to private memory and the remaining 90% to shared memory. Theshared memory is accessible by PU 4410 and by the other SPUs. An SPU mayreserve part of its local store in order for the SPU to have fast,guaranteed access to some memory when performing tasks that require suchfast access. The SPU may also reserve some of its local store as privatewhen processing sensitive data, as is the case, for example, when theSPU is performing encryption/decryption.

The MMUs are responsible for transferring data between an SPU's localstore and the system memory. In one embodiment, an MMU includes a directmemory access (DMA) controller configured to perform this function.

Each SPC may be set up to perform a different task, and accordingly, inone embodiment, each SPC may be accessed using different instructionsets. If PE 4405 is being used in a wireless communications system, forexample, each SPC may be responsible for separate processing tasks, suchas modulation, chip rate processing, encoding, network interfacing, etc.In another embodiment, each SPC may have identical instruction sets andmay be used in parallel to perform operations benefiting from parallelprocesses.

The shared portion of the SPUs' local stores may be accessed by PU 4410as well as the other SPUs by mapping each shared region to system memory4420. In one embodiment, PU 4410 manages the memory map for the commonsystem memory 4420. The memory map table may include PU 4410's L2 Cache4415, system memory 4420, as well as the SPUs' shared memory.

A portion of system memory 4420 as shown is occupied by the operatingsystem (OS 4425), which includes kernel 4430 and loaded SPU devicemodule 4435. SPU device module 4435 is loaded in order to facilitatedevice-like access to the SPUs by executing applications, such asapplication 4440. When an application such as application 4440 requeststo send code and data to one of the SPUs, the kernel, using SPU devicemodule 4435, forwards the request to the appropriate using theappropriate SPU instructions. In a Unix environment, SPU 4450 may beaccessed using the device access path, “/dev/spu1”, SPU 4470 may beaccessed using the device access path, “/dev/spu2”, SPU 4490 may beaccessed using the device access path, “/dev/spuN”, etc.

FIG. 45A is a table illustrating a device configuration file thatcontains device access paths and corresponding devices. In oneembodiment, Table 4510 contains a first column with a list of deviceaccess paths and a second column with a list of the actual device thatcorresponds to each of the device paths. In a Unix environment, forexample, the device access paths may be of the form, “/dev/xxx” where“xxx” is the name assigned to a device. “/dev/spu1”, for example, maycorrespond to SPU 1, “/dev/sp2” may correspond to SPU 2, etc. Inaddition, the configuration file may contain device access paths forother devices attached to the computer system such as disk drives,printers, etc. The device configuration file may be stored on disk, inconventional RAM, in nonvolatile RAM, ROM, etc.

FIG. 45B is a table illustrating example application code for accessinga system's multiple processors. Table 4520 shows example instructions bywhich an application can “write” data to a specific processor, “read”data from a specific processor, request a specific processor to processdata, etc. In a Unix environment, an application may “write” data to theSPU 2, for example, by issuing the command: “write(/dev/spu2/, . . . )”.Similarly, a device may issue a read command (read(/dev/spu2/, . . . ))as well other ioctl-type commands (ioctl(/dev/spu2/, . . . )).

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating a method for setting up device-likeaccess to a system's multiple processors. Processing begins at 4600whereupon, at step 4610, the SPU device module is received and thenloaded into operating system kernel 4620 in system memory 4618 of thecomputer system at step 4615. The device module provides the kernel withthe ability to communicate with the SPUs by providing the interfaceparameters between executing applications requesting access to SPUs andthe SPUs.

At step 4625, a device access path is created for accessing the firstSPU (SPU 1). In a Unix environment, for example, the device access path,“/dev/spu1/” may be created for accessing SPU 1. Information on thedevice access path and the SPU corresponding to the device access pathare saved in the device configuration file at step 4630. A deviceconfiguration file is used for determining a correspondence between adevice access path and the actual device for which the request is made.

A determination is then made as to whether more SPUs exist for which adevice access path is required at decision 4635. If no more SPUs existfor which a device access path is required, decision 4635 branches to“no” branch 4645 whereupon processing ends at 4699.

If more SPUs exist for which a device access path is required, decision4635 branches to “yes” branch 4640 whereupon, at step 4650, the next SPUrequiring an access path is selected, and a device access path for thatSPU is created. At step 4655, information on the access path and thecorresponding SPU are added to the device configuration file. Processingthen loops back to decision 4635 where a determination is again made asto whether more SPUs exist requiring a device access path.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating a method by which an applicationrequests device-like access to a processor in a multiprocessor system.Processing begins at step 4700 whereupon, at step 4710, the computersystem receives a request from a user to launch an application. In oneembodiment, the computer system includes one or more processors, and theapplication is a multimedia application designed to take advantage ofthe computer system's multiple processors.

At step 4715, the operating system kernel loads the application 4720into system memory 4718 and initiates execution of the application. Inone embodiment, the application executes on the main processor of thecomputer system. In another embodiment, the application may execute onone of the computer system's other processors.

At step 4725, the kernel monitors whether an application currentlyexecuting is requesting, via a device call, for code to execute and datato be processed on a particular SPU. Applications can request access toa particular SPU similarly to the way applications would request accessto other devices attached to the computer system such as disk drives,printers, etc. A processor device module (similar to a printer's or adisk drive's device module or driver) facilitates the execution of theapplication's request.

A determination is then made as to whether an application has issuedsuch a request for one of the SPUs at decision 4730. If an applicationhas not issued a request for an SPU, decision 4730 branches to “no”branch 4740 whereupon processing returns to step 4725 where the kernelprocess continues to monitor for applications issuing a request for anSPU.

If an application has issued a request for an SPU, decision 4730branches to “yes” branch 4735 whereupon, at step 4745, the application'sSPU instructions and data are placed for the SPU in system memory.

At step 4750, the kernel, using the loaded SPU device module, determineswhich SPU is to receive the application's instructions and data and thencommunicates the instructions to the SPU. More details on the processingthat takes place at step 4750 are provided in the flowchart of FIG. 48.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart illustrating a method by which an operatingsystem kernel receives a request from an application to access aprocessor in a multi-processor system and facilitates access to theprocessor. Processing begins at 4800 whereupon, at step 4820, the kernelloads the SPU device module. The SPU device module facilitates acommunication between the SPUs and an application requesting access toone of the SPUs. At step 4825, the kernel using the device module readsthe application's instructions/code from a region of system memory 4810and identifies the target SPU.

At step 4830, the kernel using the SPU device module and theinstructions/code determines an instructions block for the identifiedSPU. The instructions block may include, for example, a pointer to theapplication's code, a pointer to the application's input data, and apointer to an output buffer-a memory regions where the SPU is to placethe processed data.

At step 4835, a pointer to the instructions block is placed in theidentified SPU's mailbox, which, in one embodiment, is located by theSPU. Mailboxes (such as mailbox 4815) are memory spaces associated witheach SPU used to facilitate handshaking between the SPUs and thePU/operating system. In one embodiment, each SPU periodically monitorsits mailbox for pointers placed there by instructions placed there bythe operating system kernel.

At step 4840, the SPU reads the instructions and data from system memory4810 and processes the data. More details on the processing that takesplace at step 4840 are provided in the flowchart of FIG. 49. At step4845, the kernel is notified that the application's data have beenprocessed by the SPU, and at step 4850, the application reads theprocessed data from system memory 4810. Processing ends at 4899.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating a method with which a processorprocesses an application's request to access a processor. Processingbegins at 4900 whereupon, at step 4910, the SPU periodically monitorsthe SPU's mailbox to determine whether the operating system hasrequested the SPU's services. A determination is then made as to whetherinstructions for the SPU (or a pointer to such instructions) have beenplaced in the SPU's mailbox at decision 4915. If instructions have notyet been placed in the SPU's mailbox, decision 4915 branches to “no”branch 4925 whereupon processing returns to step 4910 where the SPUcontinues to periodically monitor the SPU's mailbox.

If instructions have been placed in the SPU's mailbox, decision 4915branches to “yes” branch 4920 whereupon, at step 4940, the SPU accessesthe SPU's mailbox and reads the instructions (or the pointer to theinstructions placed in system memory). At step 4945, the SPU, using DMA,transfers the instructions (prepared using the SPU device module) to theSPU's local store, and at step 4950, the SPU, again using DMA, transfersthe application data to be processed from system memory 4930 to theSPU's local store as well.

At step 4955, the SPU processes the data placed there by theapplication. In one embodiment, as the SPU processes the data, the SPUplaces the data back in the SPU's local store. At step 4960, the SPUtransfers the processed data from the SPU's local store into the outputbuffer reserved for the SPU's processed data in system memory 4930. TheSPU may transfer the data periodically as the SPU processes the data orthe SPU may transfer the data after the SPU has finished processing allthe data.

At step 4965, the SPU signals to the operating system the end of thedata processing. The SPU may signal the kernel by placing an appropriateindicator in mailbox 4935 in an embodiment where the operating system isconfigured to periodically monitor the SPU mailboxes to determinewhether one or more of the SPUs is attempting to communicate with theoperating system. In another embodiment, the SPU may issue anappropriate interrupt, etc. Processing ends at 4999.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that,based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this invention and its broader aspects and,therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope allsuch changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scopeof this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that theinvention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will beunderstood by those with skill in the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim element is intended, such intent will be explicitlyrecited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no suchlimitation is present. For a non-limiting example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimelements. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim element by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim element to inventions containing only one such element,even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more”or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an”; the sameholds true for the use in the claims of definite articles.

1. An information handling system comprising: a plurality ofheterogeneous processors, wherein the plurality of heterogeneousprocessors includes one or more first processors and one or moresecondary processors, wherein the first processors are of a firstprocessor type and the secondary processors are of a second processortype; and a common memory accessible by the plurality of heterogeneousprocessors, wherein: the one or more first processors are adapted to:execute an operating system by a selected first processor; load a devicemodule corresponding to a selected secondary processor; load anapplication using the operating system, the application includingdevice-oriented instructions adapted to control the selected secondaryprocessor; set up a device-like access path for the selected secondaryprocessor, the device-like access path being used by the application toaccess the selected secondary processor; execute the application on theselected first processor; detect a device call from the application,wherein the device call is a request from the application to loaddevice-oriented instructions to the selected secondary processor; inresponse to the detecting, load the device-oriented instructions to thecommon memory; perform the device-oriented instructions at the selectedsecondary processor; in response to the performing, store processed datain an output buffer in the common memory; notify the operating systemthat the device-oriented instructions have been performed; and read, bythe application, the processed data from the output buffer.
 2. Theinformation handling system of claim 1, wherein the one or more firstprocessors are further adapted to create a configuration file, theconfiguration file containing a list of one or more of the secondaryprocessors and a corresponding device-like access set up for each of theone or more secondary processors.
 3. The information handling system ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more first processors are further adapted todetermine for which of the one or more of the secondary processors theapplication's device-oriented instructions are intended.
 4. Theinformation handling system of claim 3, wherein the determining isperformed using information from the configuration file.
 5. Theinformation handling system of claim 1, wherein the one or more firstprocessors are adapted to load the device module to facilitate acommunication between the application and one or more of the secondaryprocessors by extending the operating system.
 6. The informationhandling system of claim 1, wherein the selected secondary processor isadapted to perform the device-oriented instructions by processingapplication-provided data according to the application's device-orientedinstructions.
 7. A computer program product stored on a computeroperable media, the computer operable media containing instructions forexecution by a computer, which, when executed by the computer, cause thecomputer to perform a method for processing software code, said methodcomprising: executing an operating system by one or more firstprocessors included in a group of heterogeneous processors; loading adevice module corresponding to one or more secondary processors includedin the group of heterogeneous processors into the operating system,wherein the first processors are of a first processor type and thesecondary processors are of a second processor type; loading anapplication using the operating system, the application includingdevice-oriented instructions adapted to control the one or more of thesecondary processors; setting up a device-like access path for aselected secondary processor, the device-like access path being used bythe application to access the selected secondary processor; executingthe application on one of the first processors; detecting a device callfrom the application, wherein the device call is a request from theapplication to load device-oriented instructions to the selectedsecondary processor; in response to the detecting, loading thedevice-oriented instructions to a system memory accessible by theselected secondary processor; performing the device-orientedinstructions at the selected secondary processor; in response to theperforming, storing processed data in an output buffer in the systemmemory; notifying the operating system that the device-orientedinstructions have been performed; and reading, by the application, theprocessed data from the output buffer.
 8. The computer program productof claim 7, further comprising creating a configuration file, theconfiguration file containing a list of one or more of the secondaryprocessors and a corresponding device-like access set up for each of theone or more secondary processors.
 9. The computer program product ofclaim 8, further comprising determining for which of the one or more ofthe secondary processor the application's device-oriented instructionsare intended.
 10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein thedetermining is performed using information from the configuration file.11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the loading thedevice module facilitates a communication between the application andone or more of the secondary processors by extending the operatingsystem.
 12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein theperforming the device-oriented instructions comprises the selectedsecondary processor processing application-provided data according tothe application's device-oriented instructions.